Jonathan Kuminga is officially a free agent after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option for next season, making the combo forward the most talked-about unsigned player in the NBA right now.
Six teams have emerged as realistic suitors. The gap between the best and worst fits is enormous, and bettors should be paying close attention to where this one lands.
Hawks Declining Kuminga Means They’re Ready To Cash
Declining the option was not a talent verdict from Atlanta. It was a luxury-tax maneuver.
The Hawks now project to sit roughly $25 million under the luxury threshold, creating room to use the $15 million mid-level exception on additional moves while potentially re-signing Kuminga at a lower average annual value.
A return to Atlanta is not off the table, according to various reports.
The fit alongside Dyson Daniels was never clean, and playing Kuminga heavy minutes came at the expense of Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Those tensions do not disappear with a new deal.
Where Jonathan Kuminga Fits Best
The Celtics represent the clearest win-now fit at 55/45 odds in favor of Kuminga accepting a non-taxpayer MLE offer from Boston if it materializes.
The Clippers offer the most financial upside given their cap flexibility, making them the 60/40 favorite to land him if he prioritizes a larger guarantee over a contender discount.
| Team | Fit Grade | Max Offer | Landing Probability |
| Boston Celtics | A | Non-taxpayer MLE | 30% |
| Los Angeles Clippers | A- | $20M+ cap space | 35% |
| Atlanta Hawks | B | $15M MLE | 20% |
| Sacramento Kings | B- | Partial MLE | 8% |
| Milwaukee Bucks | B- | $15M MLE | 5% |
| Los Angeles Lakers | C | Veteran’s minimum | 2% |
The Lakers scenario only makes sense if a sign-and-trade materializes, which would cost Los Angeles significantly more than the minimum they currently have to offer. That path gets harder the longer Kuminga‘s market develops elsewhere.
